Who knows about hcg levels

[whataglouriousthingtobe]

I'm sorry to be posting this here as it's not an aibu but I'm just desperate for some knowledge/answers. I'm currently pregnant (so my test and bloods say) from a frozen embryo transfer. I should be 7 weeks tomorrow. I went for my viability scan at the ivf clinic yesterday and they couldn't find the fetal pole, gestational sac and yolk sac is there but no pole, she said she might be able to see a flicker of something but she can't say, so I've been referred to the hospital as the nurse said at this stage a fetal pole and heartbeat should be visible.
They did my hcg bloods and they've come back as 38928 which they said is higher than the expected range.
So I'm really thrown now. Apparently come Monday when I have another scan it will confirm what's going on.
I'm just in a bad place, stuck in limbo land wandering am I going to have this baby or not ! Why is my hcg so high yet they can't find the baby? Does anyone have any experience ? I know I'm grasping at straws but I can't help myself

Hi. The wait must be unbearable for you. What you need is to have a repeat hcg in 48 hours as the levels in a healthy pregnancy tend to double in this time.

Some women do have high hcg levels (perhaps there will be two!). You can get high hcg's with ectopic pregnancies but the yolk sac is visible so they will have ruled this out.

I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful - the hcg level needs a comparison level in 2 days to show any meaning.

@Skinnyankles I did question this as I thought they have to do it twice to see a rise/doubling but she said that the one set of bloods along with another scan Monday should confirm what's going on. So in my mind that means if there is no growth from yesterdays scan then they will say im going to miscarry. Im just confused and clinging to any bit of hope, hoping im one of them rare stories you hear about where the baby wasn't found til like 9 weeks !

For 7 weeks that sounds like it's within the normal range, is it not?

Ah, apologies - I can see that they are rescanning on Monday. Did they do a vaginal scan?

@Dunkindonuts8 yes it is, the nurse said it's actually higher than they'd expect to see. Hence me being confused as to why they can't see the fetal pole, just maybe a 'flicker' of something

@Skinnyankles yeah it was internal scan

Well it's a decent number, hope you get a good rate of change

I don’t know about hcg but re the scan, snd I’m sorry to be blunt about this, I had a scan at 5 weeks and 5 days and there was the sac, yolk and no pole. I then had a scan at 6 weeks and 5 days and there was indeed a fetal pole and a heartbeat. Unless your dates are very much out I am not optimistic for you and I’m sorry to say that - my consultant intimates to me that at 6 weeks there should be a fetal pole.

Big hugs. TTC is very difficult.

I had two miscarriages before my healthy twin pregnancy and what I would say is, whilst you're waiting, trust your instincts. There was ambiguity over both of mine, in hindsight I wish I had been less hopeful as it killed me.

In reality, by 7 wks there should be a visible heartbeat. If there's any question over your dates then there's a good chance things are fine still as the heartbeat tends to be seen from 6+ wks. If you're sure of your dates, then sadly I think the odds are that it's not developing as hoped.

TTC was the hardest time of my life, my heart goes out to you. I hope you get an answer soon xx

❤️

@whataglouriousthingtobe
Aorry your going through this I had this happen to me I should of been 7 weeks but was more like 5+6 in the scan thought they seen a flicker on the screen, I went on to lose that pregnancy 3 weeks later.

I have had 4 miscarriages and 1 cp ttc num one so was not new to the bad news club.
All I can say is hope for the best and prepare for the worst hope you get some good news on Monday sending all the luck over to you 💐

When my best friend did ivf they couldn't find the heartbeat at 7 weeks, I'm not sure about the fetal pole. She had to go back a week later, and there it was, her child is 4 now. When I did ivf there was a fetal pole at 6+5 but no heartbeat and the sac was misshapen so I knew I was going to likely miscarry and I did (had a d&c at 11+1). Its hard to know for sure at this stage because the baby is millimetres in size and things can be missed. My cousin went for a scan at 8 weeks, they told her there was no hb and she would likely miscarry that weekend, her son is 14 now. I don't want to give you false hope as it would be unusual at this stage to not see the fetal pole & hb but I would say that it not all over for you yet. I've been in that limbo stage and it's horrendous so you really have my sympathy. I'm not sure about hcg levels, mine were checked once to confirm pregnancy and my beta was high for that stage so we thought there was a possibility both embryos attached. Yours does seem high but it's hard to know unless there's another one to compare it too. Praying for a good outcome for you OP

DS1 didnt have a heartbeat at 6+3. Dont think they did bloods as sac was seen (so not ectopic, which is what they were concerned about from past history). He is currently practicing his guitar.
The hcg levels sound about right?

I don’t want to send you down a Google hell hole, but I imagine they’ll have a query over molar pregnancy with high HCG and no pole.

I’m really sorry. I had three IVF losses of four babies and it is the hardest thing. Sending hugs.

At 7 weeks they could see only the sac, no baby, no fetal pole. At the follow up visit at 8 weeks with the miscarriage specialist to decide next step, she saw baby and heartbeat!!!
Currently pregnant 39w+5days

They said the culpript is my retroverted uterus which makes early scans more difficult

I really hope it's the same for you good luck

It's always reassuring to hear postive stories but at the same time I know I have to be realistic, it's just bloody hard. Especially after going through ivf and all that stress to finally see a postive and then for this to happen.
I suppose come Monday I'll have an answer. I'm thinking it's a blighted ovum. If there is growth on the sac but still no fetal pole then I think that's what it'll be looking like.
I just wonder what they'll do at that stage, I don't want it to drag out for weeks, it's my birthday next weekend aswell and I don't really want to be going through a miscarriage then it just seems cruel. I've had shingles and everything this month, it's fair to say it's been a shit October. Yes I'm feeling very sorry for myself atm!

You’re allowed to feel sorry for yourself - this is going to be a v difficult weekend and I hope for you that Monday brings good news but if it doesn’t be easy on yourself xxx

@Justheretoaskaquestion91 thank you. I had a restless night full of dreams about doctors and scans and babies, can tell my head is all over the place

I’ve no advice that hasn’t been given, but just wanted to say good luck for Monday. I’ve been where you are and the waiting is just the worst x

I don't know about theses things but guess all variables are individual to each woman. You may set yourself false hopes or scare yourself stupid for no reason. Please try and wait for Monday and get medical advice from a qualified person who knows you. Hope everything goes well OP.

Good luck today OP x

Thought I would update - Went for my scan and they could see a mass of some kind sandwiched between the yolk sac and uterine wall measuring 1.8mm.
She said it could be a fetal pole but because it's so tight in there couldn't check for any cardiac activity. They're not willing to write it off as it could be an early fetal pole. So I have to go back in 7 days for a scan, again. Gestational sac has doubled in size and is now 20mm. Honestly my head is 🤯

Gosh, you poor thing.

Limbo must be horrible at this stage

@whataglouriousthingtobe I’m so sorry you’ve not got ‘proper’ answers.
The next 7 days will seem like 7 years for you. Is there any way to plan some self-care activities or some lovely things to try and distract your brain from going 10000 miles per hour?

Wishing you all the best

I know it's annoying more than anything as I'd actually started to come to terms with it and today was just going to confirm it and then I could look at options etc. So it's back to square one now. But I do have a little hope now because this 'mass' wasn't there on my last scan, I'm hoping I have a late implanter who is shy... trying to think postive about it now.
It's my birthday this weekend so will be nice to have some food/maybe abit of pampering, I feel like I deserve it after this last month!